ERO Project: Have your say

ERO Project: Have Your Say

Wellington High School is participating in an ERO project looking at the quality and inclusivity of education provision for disabled learners. It also looks at how schools are supporting these learners during the COVID disruptions.

This project focuses on students who need teaching adaptations and/or individual support to access schooling and the New Zealand Curriculum (this includes ORS funded students as well as other high needs students not currently receiving funded support).

A note about the terminology: They are using the term ‘disabled learner’ as it is aligned to the NZ Disability Strategy. It reflects the social model that disability is a result of the interaction between the impairment and societal and environmental conditions. According to the United National Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the New Zealand Disability Strategy, a person with a disability is someone who has a long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. The NZ Disability Strategy also recognises that not all members of their community identify with this language and that each person has a right to choose the terminology they prefer.

ERO is working in partnership with the Office for Disability Issues and the Human Rights Commission in this evaluation. Together, the findings will inform future actions to improve outcomes for disabled learners. This work is designed to build on ERO’s previous evaluations of education provision for disabled learners and will complement the Ministry of Education’s Highest Needs Review.

Our school has been identified as part of a small national sample of schools with experience with disabled learners. By participating in this evaluation, you will be able to have a voice in what is or isn’t working for disabled learners and help ERO to understand what needs to change. There will also be an opportunity to share examples of where practice is working well, and why.

Please note ERO will not be evaluating our school directly and no details will be published about our school.

Please see the DLE flyer with the link at the bottom of it so you can share your views about provision for Disabled learners in NZ. The survey takes about 10-20 minutes and needs to be completed before the 21st March.